4 Maute Group members wanted for high crimes nabbed

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (March 20, 2017) - Military-led combined teams under Joint Task Force ZamPeLan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao) arrested four members of Maute Group notorious for high crimes at 3am Thursday (March 16) in the nearby province of Lanao del Sur, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Information Officer Cpt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that arrested following a lawful search were identified to be Pao Panganga, a.k.a Pao Faizal; Alex Areg Bagul; Alisata Tumao Maute; and Saadra Macapanton Madayan.

Three (3) high-powered firearms, a pistol, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and drug paraphernalia were seized in a successful raid, she added.

Cpt. Petinglay said these rogue personalities are wanted for kidnapping-for-ransom, gun-for-hire, car napping, extortion, and illegal drugs trade in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

They were also tagged as suspects in the murder of Police Superintendent Abner Wahab Santos, the former City Director of Marawi City.

Pao Panganga alias Faizal is involved in the series of kidnappings in Marawi City more notably, the abduction in March 5, 2017 of Omira Lotao, an employee of the Mindanao State University.

“This remarkable law enforcement operation typifies the degree of Intelligence gathering, information sharing, and precise planning and execution by different AFP and PNP units under one Commander of JTF ZamPelan Major General Gerardo Barrientos,” declares MGen. Carlito Galvez, Jr., the Commander of Western Mindanao Command.

“This manifests that good planning, coordination, and execution aided by vital intelligence from local government and the communities would yield to the neutralization of high profile criminal syndicates and personalities, MGen. Galvez added.

“We commend this civilian-military partnership. A united endeavor as this translates to peace and security that in turn shall spur progress in that part of Mindanao. Security forces can best help rid the country of criminal and criminal syndicates and bring about a peaceful Islamic City if the people will help us help them,” MGen Galvez, Jr. concludes.